Machine for making box or crate parts



Jan. 5, 1937. c. s. BERKsTREssL-:R

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX OR CRATE PARTS Filed May 9, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet lJan. 5, 1937. c. s. BERKsTREssr-:R

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX OR CRATE PARTS Filed May 9, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Jan. 5, 1937. c. s. BERKsTREssER 2,066,551

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX OR CRATE PARTS Filed May 9, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3L/f-l' J 9/ L L90 E 7g \w l/Z 74 /0 0 //7 C@ ev 20 Jan. 5, 1937. c. s.BERKsTRl-:SSER 2,066,551

MACHINE FOR MAKING' BOX OR CRATE PARTS File-d May 9, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet4 o Lo Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED sTA'rEs PATENT GFFIQE Charles S'.Berkstresser, Laooochee, Fla.

. Application May 9, 1932, Serial No. 610,247

19 Claims.

This invention relates to box or crate making machinery and moreparticularly to a machine for making box parts or shocks of the typeincluding side pieces and battens.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a novel andimproved box part making machine which produces box parts of improvedconstruction and appearance with increased rapidity, greater economy,less labor, and with a minimum number of rejects.

'I'he important novel features of the invention may be `enumerated asfollows:

A. A composite machine for equalizing the side boards, positioning andstapling the battens thereon, and chamfering the edges of the battens.

B. A machine in which the form chain carrying the side pieces movescontinuously and at a uniform speed and in which the stapling is done gowithout stopping themovement of the parts.

C. A `machine lin which the side boards are equalizedfafter assemblingin the form chain.

D. The provision of means for chamfering the longitudinal edges of allof the battens simulta- 5 neously after they have been secured to theside boards.

\ E. The novel constructions of the stapling machines in which the topsare reciprocated by the staple head driving bar operating mechanism.

F. The provision of two stapling machines working in opposition andalternately and adjustable in position whereby symmetrical spacing ofstaples in the side boards is possible in spite of a gap between theboards.

vG. The driving of staples while the stapling heads are moving at thesame speed and in the same direction as the sides and in which clinching`of the staples is effected by clinch pins which do -not move in thedirection of movement of theboards.

H. The stamping 'of a name or trade-mark on a `part of each -box sidefor each stroke of one of thelstapling machines.

-I. The provision for adjustment whereby various sized and shaped partsmay be formed on the same machine.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be moreapparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of theaccompanying drawings and following specification wherein is disclosed asingle exemplary embodiment of theinvention particularly in connectionwith the assembling'of the sides of orange crates. It will be understoodthat this type of crate side is selectedxnerely for convenience indescribing the device and its operation and that the invention issubject to such modifications and changes as fall within the scope ofthe appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the box or crate part assembling machinein its entirety;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, vertical section takencentrally of the machine;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a portion of the side board feed tableand main frame;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged, transverse, vertical section `online E-S of Figure 3;

Figures '7 and 8 are detail views of two positions of the battens andshowing the toggle operating to locate the battens on the form chain;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of a form chain cleat;

Figure l0 is a fragmentary transverse section on a large scale through acleat chamfering head;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a box side as completed on themachine; and

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view of the marking die and post.

The present invention relates to a machine,

which has been disclosed in the present applic cation as constructed forthe manufacture of sides for crates for citrus fruit, in which each sidecomprises two boards, the full length of the crate and slightly lessthan half the width or depth of the crate, which boards are spaced apartlaterally and secured together preferably by three cleats extendingtransversely of the boards, one at the center of their length and one ateach end thereof. The machine is adjustable for the assembly of sides,tops, or bottoms for diiferent size crates or boxes and for differentnumbers of boards and cleats, but for the sake of convenience it will bedescribed for the manufacture of sides such as shown in Figure 11. Thesesides with top and bottom when assembled about ends and a centerpartition, if desired, form a complete crate. The material from whichthese crates are made is usually rotary cut veneer of approximately Tasof an inch in thickness.

The side boards before being assembled in the machine are cut tothickness and width and are cut slightly longer than the desiredfinished dimension. The cleats are cut to the requisite thickness,width, `and length.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, itwill be noted that the machine can be roughly divided into sections,each serving for the performance of one operation. Thus, the sectionlettered A may be referred to as the feed table for the side boards andincludes the moving form chain for positioning and spacing the boards.The part B comprises the equalizer where the boards are carried by themoving form chain between the accurately spaced circular saws to havetheir ends trimmed squarely and to the proper length to fit between thefollowers or side guides in the section C, which is the feed table forthe battens and includes means for spacing the battens laterally whilethe form chain includes positioners therefor in respect to the sideboards. At D is seen the rst stapling machine which puts a pair ofstaples in each batten for each board. At E is the second staplingmachine which likewise places a pair of staples in each batten for eachboard. At F is a section including only the form chain for clearing thestapled sides from the second stapling machine. At G is the forming orshaping mechanism for chamfering the longitudinal edges of all of thebattens simultaneously as the sides are advanced by the form chain andat I-I is the mechanism for releasing the finished sides from the formchain and advancing them more rapidly than the chain to clear them anddeposit them on the inspection table by dropping them down the slides K.

As best seen in Figures 4 and 5, the whole machine is built up about apair of spaced stapling machines D and E, each having extending from itin a direction opposite to the other machine a pair of inverted channelsl@ of appropriate length. These are attached together at appropriateintervals by sections of channel Il and, where they meet the beds of themachines, are iiush therewith and bolted thereto. These side rails formthe tables or platforms over which run the spaced form chains I2, and ateach end these rails support bearings for shafts I5, I5 each equippedwith suitable sprockets I6, as best seen in Figure 3, over which theform chains run. The upper reaches of the chains are straight fromsprocket to sprocket, being supported by the rails l0 or as laterdescribed, but the lower reaches are depressed at the middle to thepoint shown by the reference character I8 in Figure 1 to clear certainportions of the stapling machines. k From the right-hand end to thestapling machines, these lower reaches run free, but from the staplingmachines to the left-hand end (by far the greater distance), their crossmembers, to be later described, ride on rails 20 supported on crossangles 2l spaced at appropriate intervals along the under flange of thesupplementary side channels 22 which are attached to the main framemembers and the stapler legs as seen in Figure 1. These assemblies offrame members are supported at the left-hand end by a set of legs 25,near the center by the bottom stationary frames of the staplingmachines, and at the right-hand end by the struts 26 which extend fromthe righthand legs of the right-hand machine to the ends of the sideframe members.

The shaft I5 carrying the form chain sprockets at the right-hand end ofthe machine is provided with an outboard mounted drive sprocket 2 8driven by chain 29 from the sprocket 33 mounted on a shaft which rotatesat a constant continuously from left to right along the upper surface ofthe channel members U and between` machines D and E for the whole lengthof the machine, receiving side boards at the left-hand end and carryingthem continuously through the machine until they are delivered ascompleted sides at the right-hand or discharge end. These sprockets 28and 30 are changeable for changing the form chain rate of travel fordifferent Width sides, tops, or bottoms.

The form chains are of conventional construction and are provided atproper and adjustable intervals with links to which may be fastenedattachments for spacing the boards and battens to form the box sides. Tolinks of this sort at the same relative spacing on both chains areconnected metal cleats 32 which are outside of the chains and spaceadjacent box sides from each other. These cleats are each provided atthe center with an outwardly projecting lug 33 having a hooked forwardend 34, the purpose of which is to position the center batten which tsbetween this hook and the rear of the lug 33 on the preceding cleat. Theends of the cleats 32 are provided with lugs and hooks 35 the same asthose at 33 and 34 in the center to serve the same purpose in connectionwith the end battens as the lugs 33 and hooks 34 serve for the centerbattens. The cleats 32 are spaced apart along the chains a. distanceexactly the width of a finished box side. Half-way between them, eachside chain is provided with a stu-d 36 which projects outwardlytherefrom and serves the single function of spacing the two boards whichform each box side at the proper distance apart and against the cleats32.

Each side channel ID has superimposed thereon a narrow inverted channel40 laterally outside of the chain and of such height that the ends ofthe cleats 32 rest thereon when the chain rests on the channels Ill.Likewise the ends of the side boards rest and travel on these tracks 40.To prevent the boar-ds from moving longitudinally and to properlyposition them, a guide 4l is secured to each channel Il) outside of thetrack 40 and has a flaring upper ange 42 to assist in guiding the boardswhen fed into the chain. These side guide strips 4| are spaced apart asufficient distance to permit free movement of the roughly sized boardswhen they are carried along by the form chain. The ends of the channelsEl) rest on the beds of machines D and E, and there are removablesections between the machines.

The boards are fed onto the form chain in the section A by operators whostand on either side and insert them in their proper positions, eachbetween a cleat and two side lugs 36 with a cleat in front of one boardof a box side and another behind the second one. The boards are carriedalong by the moving form chain and are drawn beneath the longitudinallydisposed holddown bars 45, four in number. The pair at the center arespaced apart laterally just a suicient distance to accommodate the widthof a batten, and the outer ones are at the proper positions to locatethe inner edges of the outer battens. The front ends of these hold-downbars are curved upwardly as at 46 in order that the side boards mayreadily pass under them. The sid boards are made of veneer and areinclined to be warped transversely. These hold-down bars are adjustablysupported by bolts 4'! from yokes or bridges 48 extending across themachine and secured to the side rails as seen in Figure 1. They tend toflatten the side boards and hold their ends down against the tracks 4U.These hold-down bars continue through the stapling machines and hold thesides down until they have cleared the chamferers.

When reaching the position B, the ends of the side boards are engaged bythe circular saws 50, shown as mounted on the mandrel 5I extendingbetween bearings 52 carried by blocks on the side rails I0 of themachine. The motor 5,3 drives the mandrel 5| directly through theflexible coupling 54 and is supported on a frame 55 attached to one siderail and having a separate supporting leg 56. 'I'he saws are .adjustablealong the mandrel or can be mounted on individual motors for the purposeof determining the exact length of the boards which pass through themachine. The saws may be mounted either abovewor below .the formV chainand Yneed not necessarily be positioned at the end of the first feedtable. They can function equally as well at any subsequent positionalong the form chain. The `motor drives the saws at a high speed, andthey cut off the two ends of the side boards to give them an accuratelength and insure that the ends are square and at right angles to theaxis of the boards. This prevents jamming of the boards in the machineand reduces the number of rejects to a minimum. Trimming the two ends ofthe boards simultaneously in this manner is referred to as equalizingThe side guides 4| are interrupted to accommodate the saws and thencontinue alongside of the batten feed table C where they are numbered4|', but in this position they are closer together to permit only slightclearance between them and the ends of the equalized boards. These sideguides, together with the outer hold-down bars, form channels in whichthe end battens are placed and which position them adjacent the ends ofthe side boards. The center holddown bars position the battens for thecenters of the sides. Both the side guides and the hold down bars areprovided with the flaring flanges as previously described in connectionwith the side guides to assist in the operation of inserting thebattens.

In order that the operators who feed the battens may not be required toexercise so much care in their placing, the yoke 48 which supports thehold-down bars just forward of the rst stapling machine also supportsthe pivoted toggles 60 by means of the links 60. These toggles hang intothe paths of the battens and serve topush them into position between thehooked lugs on the cleats of the form chain. This permits the operato-rto drop the batten into place slightly forward of its nal position andwith its forward end resting on top of the batten lug which will beeventually in front of it. The toggle will engage this raised end and, jbecause of its considerable weight and inertia,

will stop the movement of the batten until its rear end is engaged underthe hook on the rear cleat lug when the front end of the batten willdrop down behind the lug on the cleat in front of it. The toggle will bepushed forward to swing out of the way until the next cleat comes alongif the cleat is not pushed into position by it. These toggles are simpleweighted arms pivoted at their tops and hanging into the grooves. Thelinks 60', pivoted to both the yoke 48 and the toggles, permit thetoggles to be lifted up in case one of the battens becomes jammed. Theiroperation will be clear from an examinao tion of Figures 7 and 8.

It is found advantageous to apply alight spring hood 6 l as shown inFigure 3, to each hold-down bar 45 just behind the toggles 60 to insurethat the battens remain in position until stapled. When three battens ina transverse row are placed in their final position by means of thetoggles 60, then one box side is in condition for the application ofsuitable fastening means to hold the parts thereof together. In thepresent case the fastening means are staples although it will berealized that nails or other suitable fasteners could be used. However,staples are described because they are at the present time required tocomply with the specification of the Freight Container Bureau.

As before stated, there are two stapling machines which are identical inconstruction and operation, and, for the sake of simplicity, the" firstone reached by the form chain will be described in detail. This machinecomprises a suitable base 6l preferably formed integral with the castlegs 62, a pair of which are at each side of the machine and have thefeet 63 secured to the floor in any suitable way. 'Ihis machine base, aspreviously mentioned, assists in the support of the side rails of thewhole assembly.

Extending transversely of the machine and journaled in suitable bosses64 in the right-hand legs, there is a main shaft 65 from which is driventhe eccentric shaft 66 of the machine by means .of a pinion on the mainshaft engaging with the large gear 61 on the eccentric shaft.

The main shafts of the two machines are each equipped with a sprocket68, which sprockets are connected together by the chain 69 so that thetwo machines run in unison and at the same speed. 'I'he chain 29 whichdrives the sprocket on the shaft I5 for the form chain passes over thesprocket 30 on the eccentric shaft of the second stapling machine and isdriven thereby, which ensures the proper timing between the staplingmachines and the form chain.

All of the stapling machine mechanism above the base 6l is carriedbetween the side frames 10 connected together by the tie rod 1I and thebeam 12. This upper assembly has, at the bottom of each of the sideframes 10, a shoe 'I3 which runs in ways i4 in the base of the machine,permitting reciprocation of the upper structure of. the machine parallelto the axis of movement .of the form chain. Upward movement of the upperstructure is prevented in any suitable manner such as by using T-heads15, Figure 6, on the shoes tting in suitable slots in the ways or in anyother well-known manner.

The upper structure is provided with a vertically movable driving bar 8Dparallel to the floor, extending transversely of the machine and havingcross heads 8l operating in the slots 82 in the sideframe members 10.Each cross head has extending outwardly therefrom a trunnion 85 uponwhich is journaled the enlarged upper end 86 of the connecting rod 81which has secured to its lower end the eccentric strap 88 cooperatingwith the eccentric 89 on the eccentric shaft 66 of the machine. Rotationof the eccentric shaft causes a full reciprocation of the driving barfor each revolution of the shaft.

Each stapling machine is preferably equipped with three stapling heads9D, 9|, 92, the construction of which is wholly conventional and willnot be entered into at all in the present description. It is suflicientto state that the stationary portions of these stapling heads aresecured to the stationarytransverse bary 'l2 While the movable parts areconnected to the driving bar which is operated by the eccentrics. Therelative movement of these two parts of each stapling head serves toform staples from suitable wire, cut the wire to provide points on thestaples, and drive the staples through the battens and side boards witha portion of the wire projecting beneath the boards.

The stapler heads each form and drive two staples, one in advance of theother and one near each longitudinal edge of the corresponding batten.Thus the three heads on a single stroke of the machine insert sixstaples. The stapling heads may be constructed similar to the showing inthe patent to Lindt, No. 692,882, granted February 11, 1902.

The movable upper structure .of each machine is also provided with wirefeeding mechanism for the' stapler heads indicated at 93 and which isconventional for this type of machine. The wire is fed from the left asseen in Figure 1 and is supplied from suitable reels 9G on the overheadrack 9'! supported at 98 from the frame of the machine and suspended aslat 99.

The operation of the stapling heads is accomplished by vertical movementof' the' driver parts thereof, the drivers passing down onto thematerial of. the battens at the nish of the stapling stroke. It will beremembered that the assem bled parts for the box sides are movedcontinuously and uniformly along the conveyor in a line at right anglesto the movement of the stapling heads.V In .order that the stapling canbe accomplished, it is essential that the heads also move in the samedirection and at the same rate of speed as the boards into which thestaples are being driven during the vwhole vtime that the staple isengaged both with the wood and with the stap-ling head. It is for thisreason that the stapling machines `have their upper structurereciprocable in the direction of movement of the conveyor.

To ensure movement in synchronism and phase with the particular battensinto which the staples are to be driven, the upper structures of themachines lare reciprocated from the same eccentrics-- which operate thestapler head driving bar. For this purpose the head of one eccentricstrap on each machine is provided with an extension |00v to which ispivoted an adjustable link |0|. The opposite end of this link is securedat |92 adjustably in the slot. |93 in the lever |04 keyed to shaft |95held in brackets on the right-hand legs of the machine. The opposite endof the lever |04y is connected by a link |01 to one frame member 'i0 ofthe upper structure. The opposite end of' shaft |95 carries a shortlever linked to frame member l@ so that movement of the whole upper'structure in synchronism with the driving bar isensured. The adjustmentof the outer end of the link lill in the slot in the lever permitschanging; the length of stroke of the upper structure and to some extentthe phase relationship of the movement of that structure and the drivingbar This link is adjustable to insure cooperation of the ystaple drivingheads with the clinch pins to be later described. This adjustment of thelink `I|l| in the slot |93 also permits changing the rate Vof travelofthe driving assembly heads in the direction of movement of the formchain so that the rate of speed of the two is substantially identicalduring the staple driving operations. The speed of movement of the formchain is adjustable as previously mentioned and permits Varying thespacing between sets of staples driven in any particular box side. Whenthe speed of the chain is increased to increase the spacing betweenstaples thenl the rate of movement of the stapler heads in the directionof chain movement must also be increased so that there is no relativemovement between the stapler heads and the side parts during the actualstaple driving.

The adjustable length of the link |0| permits some change in phaserelationship of the two staple driving machines without changing therelative rate of travel of the heads thereof and the form chain.

As clearly shown in Figure 12, there is attached to the movable drivingbar 8|) of one of the stapling machines a post |08 guided in an aperturein a member |08 secured to the lower fixed bar 12 of the machine. Thisbar carries at its bottom a steel die |09 positioned to engage andimpress a name, trade-mark, or the like into one of the cleats,preferably the center one at the same time that staples are driven. Oneimpression is made for each stroke of this machine and is made withoutthe use of ink, merely compressing the wood fibers.

The first stapling machine is permanently attached to the floor and hassecured to the legs on each side a bar ||0 to which the second staplingmachine is adjustably secured. This permits the second machine to bemoved longitudinally of the conveyor, necessitating only lengthening or.shortening the connecting chain between the main shafts of the twoma-chines and supplying channels 40 and H2 (to be later described) ofthe proper length, and permits an adjustment of the spacing betweenstaples driven by the two machines. In operation the rst machine isadjusted to drive staples first at the forward ends =of the battens. Onits second stroke it drives a set of staples in the battens near theforward edge of the second board. The second machine on its first strokeon the same box side drives the second set of staples from the forwardends of the battens and on its second stroke drives the last set ofstaples near the rear ends of the battens. The machines thus put inalternate sets of staples in each side.

However, both machines do not operate on the same side at the same timebut are engaged in stapling two different sides. The spacing between thetwo sets of staples inthe batteri for each board is different than thespacing between adjacent sets of staples on the two sides of the spacebetween the boards of one side, and for this reason the adjustment ofthe machines is provided so that four sets of staples can be driven withthe desired spacing between the sets in the boards andl another desiredspacing between the staples straddlingthe space between boards.Furthermore, this adjustment permits operation on different sizes ofboards and sides for making Iother types of crates. Box or crate partscan also be made with different numbers of boards or slats and withvarying numbers of staples and spacing thereof inA each which might insome cases cause one machine to apply more staples in one vpart than theother machine and vice versa for the next part.

In order to provide smooth operation, the machines are rset inopposition, i. e., one machine has its driving bar moving upwardly whilethe other is moving downwardly, and one machine is traveling forwardwhile the other is moving backward.

This reduces vibration to a minimum and permits the whole machine.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, it will be seen that the boards notonly rest on the side rails 4U, but there is a central rail formed bythe inverted channel 2 which supports the central portions of thesideboards. This rail as well as the rails 40 are in parts and abut the`clinch blocks ||3 mounted on the stapling machine beds. The tops of therails and blocks are flush. 'Ihe blocks are drilled directly beneath thestapling heads in their lowest position, with circular holes ||4considerably larger than the area covered by the staple points, and, inthese openings, operate the clinch pins ||5, two for each block, sincetwo staples are driven by each stapler head.

The clinch pins are secured together in pairs by blocks (not shown) andrest on brackets H6 secured to a transverse bar ||6 operating insuitable vertical Ways in the base of the machine and are connected bylinks ||1 to intermediate portions of the levers ||8 pivoted at ||9 on arod extending clear across the machine and secured in the legs thereof.The free ends of the levers are provided with cam follower rollers |20which bear on the peripheries of the discs |2| mounted on the eccentricshaft 66 and each truly circular except for the lobe |22 of shortarcuate extent which, when striking the follower roller at highspeed,gives the clinch pins a quick upward thrust and Vclinches thestaples so rapidly against the stapler heads which are now bearing onthe upper surfaces of `the battens that the continuous movement of theboards is immaterial. Two clincher operating cams are provided, spacedsufficiently Widely apart so that the return reach of the form chainpasses between the clincher bar thrust links ||1, as clearly seen inFigure 4.

Power is applied to drive the stapler mechanisms as well as the formchain from the electric motor |25 carried by the platform |26 supportedon legs |21 from the floor; 'Ihe motor is equipped withappropriatestarting mechanism |28 which controls all other motors anddrives the clutch wheel |29` through a series of V-belts |30. ThisVwheel houses a conventional clutch controlled by start the machinewithout leaving the position for feeding material to the machine. Thedriven `member of the clutch is mounted directly on an extension of themain shaft of the rst stapler machine.

The completely stapled sides are carried from the machines, still underpressure by the holddown bars, to the station G where the edges of thebattens are chamfered. At this station there is a transverse mandrelcarried in suitable bearings |36 supported from the side rails of themachine. This mandrel is driven by a motor |38 supported in'the samemanner as is the motor 53 for the equalizing saws. On this mandrel aremounted cutter heads Ulli,` one for each hatten. These constitutecircular discs slotted to receive cutters |4`| as seen in Figure l0, thecutting edges of which are profiled as seen in that figure to chamfer orremove the corners of the longitudinal edges of the battens and to clearthe cleat hooks 33 Aand 35. These cutters with their mandrel `andheadsreally comprise `three Shapers which are driven at high speed by theirmotor and produce a fine smooth chamfer on the battens, which Aimprovestheir appearance materially and reduces the possibility of injury bysplinters when handling the boxes or crates.

Both the equalizer saws and the shaper heads for chamfering are providedwith suitable dust hoods |50, shown only in Figure 1 since in the otherfigures they would hide the structures which they house. These hoods areconnected by suitable ducts |52 to appropriate suction fans (not shown)or like devices and serve for removing chips and sawdust from thecutters to prevent it from clogging the machine. To protect theinspector from chips which might be thrown by the chamferer heads, thereis a shield |54 secured to the yoke il at the far end of the machine andextending substantially down to the surfaces of the boards passing alongon the form chain.

Upon leaving the station Where the chamfering is performed, the finishedsides approach the end of the form chain. Mounted on the shaft l5 whichcarries the sprockets I6 for this end of the form chain is a pair ofcircular discs |56 somewhat larger in diameter than the sprockets andone arranged outside of each sprocket in a position to be beneath theend batteri. The purpose of these discs is to engage beneath eachfinished side as it approaches and, because of their superior diameters,to lift the forward edge of the side to release it from engagement withthe rear of the lugs on the cleat in front of it. When the side reachessubstantially the tops of the discs |56, it is pushed, by the lugsbehind it, beneath the idler rollers |51 mounted on the shaft |58loosely journaled in the arms |59 pivoted at |60 to the ends of the sideguides 4|. The Weight of this assembly, including the idlers |51, causessufficient friction between the discs |56 and the material of thefinished side to permit these discs to now cause the forward movement ofthe side, and since the discs are greater in diameter than thesprockets, the side is advanced more rapidly than the chain and hence isreleased from beneath the hooks on the cleat lugs behind it. In thismanner the sides are successively freed from the chain, advanced morerapidly than the chain, and delivered to the chute |10 which depositsthem on an inspection table, not shown, for inspection prior to bundlingand shipping.

It will be seen that the whole machine is extremely simple inconstruction and is capable of operating as rapidly as the boards andbattens can be supplied to it. It has been operated at the rate ofthirty thousand sides per day of ten hours, which sides are muchsuperior to those produced by machines in which the parts are advancedin steps to permit the operation of the stapling devices while theboards are stationary. The steady movement of the chain does notdisplace the boards and battens relative to each other, and it insures amore uniform product, due to the equalizing having been done on thechain form in which the stock is held, and one in which the number ofrejected parts is reduced to a minimum. By having several operationsperformed on the same machine, there is a great saving in the handlingof the parts, in the number of operators required, and in the spacedemands for machinery for nishing crate sides.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for forming box or crate parts, each from one ormoreboards and battens, in combination, conveyor mechanism having meansto receive and space the boards, equalizing saws in the path of the endsof said boards while moving on said conveyor torreduce the boards to auniform length, means to maintain battens in relative` position to aboard, meansrfor applying fasteners to secure the battens to the boardswhile on the conveyor, and chamfering means to bevel o r round the edgesof said battens while being moved from the fastening position by saidconveyor.

2. In a machine for forming box or crate parts from boards and battens,in combination, a steadily moving conveyor mechanism to receive and holda succession of boards with their major axes transverse to theirdirection of movement, means including said conveyor to receive andposition battens each with its axis parallel to the direction ofmovement of the conveyor and with the battens properly allotted to theboards, a pair of fastener` driving machines each adapted to functionvtoapply alternate rows of fasteners for securing the battens on theboards, means to drive said machines in synchronism, and meansconstructed for adjustment to change the phase relationship of themachines to obtain the proper fastener spacing.

3. ,In a machine for forming box or crate sides from boards and battens,in combination, a conveyor mechanism to receive and hold the parts of aplurality of sides, means to move said conveyor steadily and at uniformspeed, a pair of fastener driving devices longitudinally spaced alongthe path. of Vsaid conveyor, means to move the driving parts thereofeach in unison with the conveyor during the driving stroke thereof andto actuate said devices alternately, said fastener driving devices beingadjustable relative to each other to permit of different fastenerspacing as desired.

4. In a machine for forming box sides from boardsand battens, incombination, a conveyor mechanism to receive and hold the assembledparts of a plurality of sides spaced therealong, means to move saidconveyor at a uniform speed, a pair of fastener driving assembliesspaced along the path of the said conveyor, and means to move thefastener driving yparts of the assemblies in the same direction and atthe same speed as the side partsduring the actual driving operation,means to permit changing the relative positions of said assemblies andmeans to permit changing the ratio of conveyor speed to stroke ratewhereby fastener pattern control is had for sides with different numbersof boards.

5. In a machine for forming, box sides from boards and battens, incombination, a conveyor mechanism to receive and hold the assembledparts vof a plurality of sides spaced therealong, means to move saidconveyor at a uniform speed,

. a pair of fastener driving assemblies spaced along the path of thesaid conveyor, means to move the fastener driving parts of theassemblies in the samev direction and at the same speed as the sideparts during the actual driving operation, and means to permit ofindependent adjustment of said assemblies` along said path to positionthem so that one completes an operation of at least one driving strokeon one side while the other completes an operatin on another side.

6. Ina machine for forming box sides from boards and battens, incombination, a conveyor mechanism to receive and hold the assembledparts of a pluralityY of sides spaced therealong, means to move saidconveyor at a uniform speed, a staple driving mechanism having astationary portion beneath said conveyor and a portion above saidconveyor reciprocable parallel to the conveyor, staple driving heads onsaid reciprocable portion, means on the stationary portion to move saidheads for staple driving, said means being operatively associated withthe reciprocable portion to drive it in unison with the movement of theheads for staple driving, whereby staples can be driven while the sideboards are in motion and means to permit adjustment of the stapledriving mechanism bodily longitudinally of the conveyor.

7. In a box side assembly machine, in combination, a conveyor mechanismincluding a form chain having spacing means to receive side boards withtheir major axes transverse to its axis of movement, means on said formchain to position battens with their major axes longitudinally of thechain and in definite relationship to the boards, hold-down bars adaptedto engage the upper surfaces of the boards, said bars being so spaced asto form lateral positioning and guide means for said battens, andmechanism for performing successive operations on said boards andbattens while held by said means and hold-down bars.

8. In a box side assembly machine, in combination, a conveyor mechanismincluding a form chain having spacing means to receive side boardstransverse to its axis of movement, holddown bars spaced above a portionof said chain and adapted to engage the upper surfaces of said boardswhen carried thereunder by the chain, equalizing saws in the path of theends of said boards when under the hold-down bars, means including partsof the form chain'and the hold-down bars to position battens above andin predetermined relation to sets of boards on the chain, and stapledriving mechanism along the path of said conveyor and adapted to securethe battens to the boards while the conveyor is in motion.

9. In a box side assembly machine, in combination, a conveyor mechanismincluding a form chain having spacing means to receive side boards withtheir major axes transverse to its axis of movement, hold-down barsspaced above a portion of said chain and adapted to engage the uppersurfaces of said boards when carried thereunder by the chain, equalizingsaws in the path of the ends of said boards when under the hold-downbars, means including parts of the form chain and the hold-down bars toposition battens in predetermined relation to boards on the chain,staple driving mechanism along the path of said conveyor and adapted tosecure the battens to the boards while the conveyor is in motion, andmechanism beyond said stapler adapted to simultaneously chamfer theedges of all of the battens on a side while the boards are held down bythe hold-down bars.

10. Ihe method of making box sides comprising positioning boards inproper relationship, imparting steady movement to said boards in adirection parallel to the plane of their upper surface and at rightangles to their axes, simultaneously trimming both ends of each board,applying battens above said boards, fastening the battens to the boardswhile both are in motion, and then chamfering the edges of the battenswithout stopping the motion of the boards.

11. In a machine for forming box sides, in combination, staple drivingmeans adapted to drive staples through battens and boards while inmotion, a conveyor including a form chain for holding boards in theposition they will take in a finished box side and hold-down barsadapted to position battens laterally of the boards and conveyor, meansto drive said chain at a uniform speed, equalizing means for said boardspositioned to engage them while moving with the form chain, andchamfering heads disposed laterally of the conveyor path in accordancewith the batten positions as determined by the holddown bars to chamferthe batten edges while the battens move on the chain.

12. A staple driving machine for use with a board conveyor driven atuniform speed including, in combination, a stationary base, a shaftjournaled therein, means to drive said shaft, an upper structureslidably mounted on said base for reciprocation parallel to the axis ofthe conveyor, a staple driving head having a portion rigid with saidupper structure, a driving bar reciprocably mounted in said upperstructure and having a part of said staple driving head secured thereto,an eccentric on said shaft, and means for imparting motion from saideccentric to both the upper structure and to the driving bar wherebymotion of the upper structure is positively synchronized with that ofthe staple driving head.

13; In a machine for forming box or crate parts from boards and battens,in combination, a conveyor chain, means on said chain to receive andhold a succession of boards with their major axes disposed transverselyto the direction of movement of the chain, hold down bars adapted toengage the upper surfaces of the boards, said bars being so spaced as toform lateral positioning and guide means for battens, means on the saidchain to engage the rear end of each batten and position it in definiterelation to a board and means between the guide bars to finally positionthe battens against their end engaging chain parts whereby the operationof hand feeding the battens can comprise merely throwing them betweenthe guide bars.

14. In a device for positioning battens on a moving form chain havingspaced driving lugs operating between longitudinal guide bars, incombination, a weight and means pivoting said weight at its upper endand positioning its lower end between said bars to just clear the lugs.

15. In a machine for forming box or crate parts, in combination, atravelling form chain to receive and loosely hold boards and superposedbattens, means to insert fastening means through the battens and boardsto secure them together and means to then chamfer the batteri edgeswhile still on the form chain.

16. In a machine for forming box sides from boards and battens, incombination, a conveyor mechanism to receive and hold the assembledparts of a plurality of sides spaced therealong, means to move saidconveyor at a substantially uniform speed, independently operablefastener driving assemblies longitudinally spaced along the path of saidconveyor, means to so reciprocate the fastener driving parts of theassemblies that during the driving strokes they are moving atsubstantially the same speed and in the same direction as the sideparts, and means to permit changing the ratio of conveyor speed tofastener stroke rate whereby control is had of the spacing of fastenersin the side parts.

17. In a machine for forming box sides from boards and battens, incombination, a conveyor mechanism to receive and holdthe assembled partsof a plurality of sides spaced therealong, means to move said conveyorat a substantially uniform speed, independently operable fastenerdriving assemblies longitudinally spaced along the path of saidconveyor, means/to so reciprocate ,the fastener driving parts of theassemblies that during the driving strokes they are moving atsubstantially the same speed and in the same direction as the sideparts, means to permit changing the ratio of conveyor speed to fastenerstroke rate, and means to permit adjusting the rate of travel of thefastener driving parts in the direction of conveyor travel to compensatefor changes in conveyor speed.

18. In a machine for forming box sides from boards and battens, incombination, a conveyor mechanism to receive and hold the assembledparts of a plurality of sides spaced therealong,

means to move said conveyor at a substantially uniform speed,independently operable fastener driving assemblies longitudinally spacedalong the path of said conveyor, means to so reciprocate the fastenerdriving parts of the assemblies that during the driving strokes they aremoving at substantially the same speed and in the same direction as theside parts, means to permit changing the ratio of conveyor speed tofastener stroke rate, and means to permit adjusting the range of travelof the fastener driving parts in the direction of travel of the conveyorto compensate for changes in conveyor speed.

19. In a machine for forming box sides from boards and battens, incombination, a conveyor mechanism to receive and hold the assembledparts of a plurality of sides spaced therealong, means to move saidconveyor at a substantially uniform speed, fastener driving assembliesspaced along the path of said conveyor, means to so reciprocate thefastener driving parts of Y the assemblies that during the drivingstrokes they are moving at substantially the same speed and in the samedirection as the side parts, means to operate said fastener assembliesso that their driving strokes are in uniform staggered relation toreduce vibration, and means permitting the relative spacing of saidassemblies to be changed while retaining said relation.

CHARLES S. BERKSTRESSER.

